Los Angeles -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling asked a Los Angeles probate court Wednesday to uphold her negotiated sale of the team for $ 2 billion despite her husband 's objections , her attorney said .

The probate court agreed to hold a four-day trial on the issue , beginning July 7 .

Sterling 's legal maneuver comes as three physicians say her estranged husband , Donald , 80 , is mentally incapacitated , said her attorney , Pierce O'Donnell . Court papers say her husband shows early Alzheimer 's or other brain disease .

Donald Sterling , the team 's other co-owner , does n't want to sell the team as the National Basketball Association demands ; this week he called the league `` despicable monsters '' and `` a band of hypocrites and bullies . ''

O'Donnell said his client sought an expedited hearing `` given the fact this is a very important transaction , '' he said .

`` It 's unfortunate . Mrs. Sterling regrets having to go to court and publicly air this problem . But Mr. Sterling 's conduct in reneging on the sale requires her to do so , '' O'Donnell said .

Joining Sterling and O'Donnell at the courthouse Wednesday was the attorney for former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer , with whom Shelly Sterling has reached an agreement to sell the franchise for a record $ 2 billion .

Donald Sterling opposes a sale of the team and says he gave his wife a purported letter only to negotiate with a buyer , not to formally sell the team , his attorney said Wednesday .

`` Bottom line , Donald Sterling does not want to sell the team , '' attorney Bobby Samini said .

Technically , a family trust owns the Clippers . But O'Donnell said that three physicians have certified that Donald Sterling lacks the mental capacity to function as a trustee of the complex trust .

`` The trust agreement provides that if two qualified physicians certify that he 's mentally incapacitated , he 's removed . We also have a third distinguished doctor who 's an expert in this field , mental capacity , who has reviewed the evidence , and supports the other doctors and agrees on that conclusion . So there 's three doctors . We only need two , '' O'Donnell said .

`` This is a complex business . You have a $ 2 billion basketball team . You have massive amount of 150 real estate holdings , and it requires a person to run the business who is competent , and the doctor -- three doctors -- have said that he lacks the mental capacity , '' O'Donnell said .

Doctors ' findings

Donald Sterling recently underwent a CT scan and a PET scan of his brain , according to Shelly Sterling 's court filings .

Dr. Meril S. Platzer , a California neurologist , examined Donald Sterling on May 19 and found he `` is suffering from cognitive impairment secondary to primary dementia Alzheimer 's disease , '' court papers said .

The PET scan on May 16 providing findings `` consistent with a neurodementia of the Alzheimer 's type , '' Platzer said in his certification of Donald Sterling 's incapacity .

Donald Sterling was unable to spell `` world '' backward , was unaware of the season of the year and initially had difficulty drawing a clock , Platzer said in court papers .

Dr. James Edward Spar , a specialist in geriatric psychiatry who examined Donald Sterling on May 22 , said Sterling suffers `` mild global cognitive impairment '' and `` the overall picture is consistent with early Alzheimer 's disease , but could reflect other forms of brain disease , '' court papers said .

Platzer said in a May 29 certification that Donald Sterling has `` an impairment of his level of attention , information processing , short term memory impairment and ability to modulate mood , emotional liability , and is at risk of making potentially serious errors of judgment , '' court papers said .

Spar said in May 27 letter that Donald Sterling `` is substantially unable to manage his finances and resist fraud and undue influence , and is no longer competent to act as trustee of his trust , '' court documents said .

Another specialist in geriatric psychiatry , Dr. Stephen L. Read , `` confirmed the methodology and conclusions of Drs. Platzer and Spar , '' court papers said .

`` I agree that the history and the findings are highly suspect as representing the slow emergence of progressive dementia , and specifically Alzheimer 's disease , '' Read said in documents filed in court . `` In addition , the findings described are fully consistent with the general loss of brain tissue and , more specifically , with the pattern of impaired brain functions demonstrated by the PET scan of May 16 , 2014 . ''

Under the trust agreement , if Donald Sterling became mentally incapacitated , he would be removed as a trustee , O'Donnell said .

Donald Sterling is mentally sound , one of his lawyers , Maxwell Blecher , told CNN on Tuesday .

`` It strikes me as totally incredible to argue that this man -- I talk to him every day -- is incapable of making decisions and is mentally incompetent , '' Blecher said on Tuesday afternoon . `` And I do n't believe any court is going to make a finding to the contrary . ''

Adam Streisand , the attorney for Ballmer , said his client was hoping for a speedy court date .

`` Mr. Ballmer has insisted , as a provision of this deal , Shelly Sterling get approval from the court that she has the authority as the sole trustee based upon the removal of Mr. Sterling as a trustee . So we are here because Mr. Ballmer is insisting that the court bless the transaction , '' Streisand said .

`` If it does not go forward , the consequences are dire , '' Streisand said . `` Mr. Ballmer is not going to stick around for years , for this to wind through the courts . And the NBA has made it very clear that it will take over the team , and that is a consequence that is not going to benefit the Sterling family . ''

September deadline

Donald Sterling initially vowed to fight the sale and filed a lawsuit against the NBA , then said he was going along with the sale -- until Monday , when he again pulled his support . `` From the onset , I did not want to sell the Los Angeles Clippers . I have worked for 33 years to build the team , '' Donald Sterling said .

In Shelly Sterling 's court filings , NBA general counsel Richard W. Buchanan said if the Sterlings do n't sell the team by September 15 , the league may sell the team or renew termination proceedings against the Clippers or both .

In one document , Shelly Sterling said her husband `` has gone back and forth between opposing the sale and supporting the sale '' of the team since May 29 .

`` To date , I have not received Donald 's written consent to the sale of the Clippers to -LRB- Ballmer -RRB- for $ 2 billion , '' Shelly Sterling said in court papers .

Sterling has been embroiled in controversy since a recording of a conversation with his friend V. Stiviano surfaced . The recording included a series of racist comments .

Sterling 's comments , first posted on TMZ , sparked outrage among NBA players , executives and fans . The commissioner fined Sterling $ 2.5 million and banned him for life from the NBA .

In a statement Tuesday , Sterling said he has apologized for the remarks and his apology is sincere .

He also made inflammatory comments to CNN 's `` Anderson Cooper 360 '' about African-Americans , which the NBA had planned to use as part of its evidence against him in an owners ' meeting where a vote would be taken on whether to terminate his ownership rights . The meeting was canceled .

Sterling 's lawsuit makes clear that he believes the NBA has no right to force such a sale , and the league was wrong in banning him for life and fining him .

In addition to damages , the lawsuit seeks a restraining order .

Sterling says NBA officials are ` bullies , ' ` hypocrites , ' ` monsters '

NBA commissioner : Sterling saga not over yet

@highlight

Donald Sterling shows ` neurodementia of the Alzheimer 's type , ' a doctor says

@highlight

He 's unaware of the season and ca n't spell ` world ' backward , doctor adds

@highlight

He shows ` early Alzheimer 's disease ' or other brain disease , second doctor says

@highlight

Findings are consistent with ` the general loss of brain tissue , ' third doctor says